>>I was just pointing out that any way to measure a programmer's work will lead to the guy doing what's measured, not what he's supposed to do. When it was lines of code that was paid, they;
>> started;
>> producing lines.
>> ...
>
>This sort of problem appears in many places, of course, not only in computer programming. Which means that the only real solution to the numerous problems in the current world is to educate everybody in "spirituality", "ethics", "moral values", or however you choose to call it. A daunting task, that will surely take centuries to complete.

Just like the socialism claimed they'll "build a new man"... which they, unfortunately, did. And it was no better - this guy wasn't motivated by pure greed, there was envy added... and the whole idea was, initially, to build an ethics which will put the interests of the community before the interests of an individual, and in turn the individual should have the means to influence the community and partake in decisions made. And Lenin was right, "if we fail, it won't be because of the outside enemy, it will be because of the bums in our ranks". Somehow, these bums always came into higher ranks :)

Yet I observe the same need for an ethical code here - there's work ethics, there's business ethics, and even politicians try to have an ethical image (and pay the staff to keep it up :). There's so much that relies on charity here, what is, IMO, the matter that state should have taken care of. Take collecting aid for veterans - the state sent them to war, the state should take care of them, and yet nobody is amazed that there's still fundraising to their benefit. That's relying on the people's conscience - so very socialist.

Back to the subject: the problem of proper charging for your work (whether you are a contractor or an employee) and being charged for the work of others (you as a customer or an employer) is universal. It is, the lack of general method to decide is universal, and the only general answer to it is the programmers' common answer "it depends". Whichever method gets applied, one should keep in mind that the purpose is not to apply the method; the purpose is to get the job done and paid, to mutual pleasure.